Beginning a new chapter in our life together, Claudia and I have moved from Ouray to Crested Butte! As much as we love Ouray and the San Juans and all our friends there, after much contemplation we decided that we should try living in a bit larger town where Claudia would have more opportunities. I’ve always loved the Crested Butte area and Claudia was really attracted to it as well last time we were here (it’s hard not to be). And it also doesn’t hurt that there are coffee shops and bicycles everywhere!
Although the rental market is tough in Crested Butte (like most ski towns in Colorado), we ended up finding a nice condo up at Mt. Crested Butte which is a sort of condo-village right near the ski resort base area and only about a 5 minute drive from the town proper. From our terrace we have a panoramic view of the actual Mt. Crested Butte, the ski area, and the Elk Mountains! We celebrated our first morning here by hiking up to the top of the Butte to see the lay of the land.
View from the 12,162 ft. summit of Mt. Crested Butte – September. Gothic Mountain is the prominent peak at center-left. To the right are the Elk Mountains; you can see the summits of Snowmass Mountain, the Maroon Bells, and Pyramid Peak sticking up higher than the rest. Our condo building is visible down there on the very left side of the photo.
The aptly named Mt. Crested Butte is indeed a butte with a pointy crested top, rising solo in the center of a broad basin ringed by mountain ranges on almost all sides. From the 12,162 ft. summit you see mountain valleys radiating out in all directions like the spokes of a wheel. There’s a distinct feeling of spaciousness around here; although I’m probably more aware of this having lived in the deep box canyon of Ouray for the last 8 years.
A colorful autumn sunset over Mt. Crested Butte – September.
Packing up our house and leaving Ouray was a tough choice to make but now that we’re here I’m super stoked. We’ll be here at least through May and maybe we stay for good, maybe we go back to Ouray; we’re just playing it by ear and making the most of it wherever we are and wherever we end up.
Congrats on the move, Jack! Ouray always seemed to me like an amazing place to live, but I’ve never heard anyone complain about CB. I loved the year we lived over the hill in Paonia, the West Elks are an amazing part of Colorado. Lots of pictures, please!
Good luck on your move, Jack!! I think you will like the wide open spaces better than living in a canyon, especially for photography, and you are now living IN a ski resort! Can’t wait for the photos to come. Take care
I, like many people who follow your adventures, wait with baited breath for what your eye will capture in Crested Butte. It’s most certainly going to be great! Cheers!
Congrats. You will never go wrong when you follow love! Good luck in CB!
….and you open this chapter with some stunning captures of the aspens in full splendor. Looks like a wonderful place, congrats to you both. Excited to see what you show us!